20 years of mountain riding

[old700]

Having a coffee this morning going through S&M and thought wow, its been 20 years since I first tried snowmobiling in the mountains. Living in central AB growing up we always had a sled around the farm, but some years it never turned over due to lack of snow. My dad had bought a 1979 Arctic Cat Pantera 500 new and we used it until the late 80's until the steering column broke under the engine plate. It was torn apart but sat in the shop occupying numerous pails of nuts/bolts until I decided to fix it myself at the age of 15. I cobbled together the steering and was able to put it back together, and after mixing up some fresh premix, that sucker started on the second pull. I rode all over the countryside on that thing and it never let me down. Dad always said that sled was a dog, but I didn't know any better, I was riding having the time of my life. That machine sparked it for me. The first mountain sled I bought was a 99 RMK 700 with a 136, then a 2009 RMK 800 155, 2011 M8, 2016 Axys 800 163 and now a 2018 Sidewinder 162. Still have the M8, Axys and SW. Collectively have around 30,000km on all those sleds. Here's to another 20yrs everyone!

 

[ducati]

Had a similar start. Grew up 5 miles west of Drayton Valley and started on a Ski Doo Touring 380 just riding ditches, fields, the Pembina and out west. Hit the mountains a few years later on my first mountain sled a 1995 Summit 500. Followed that up with a 1998 Summit X, 2002 RMK 151, 2004 Pro X2 800 156, 2009 M8 162, 2013 Pro RMK 163 and now my 2015 M8000 162.

Nothing like getting into the hills!

 

[ctd]

Awesome it is, the junk we cobbled up to get us here It goes back further, some are no longer with us.

 

[pete gads]

Same here, been riding since I was 8. Old 399 olympic , all over country side after chores. Then in late teens a 4500 citation skidoo. Rode crap out of that thing until Jim Kuster took me to mountian at age of 29 on a polaris 400. After that trip I bought my first mountian sled and never looked back. In my 30th yr now at age 59.
My List 93 polaris 500 EFI 136
96 polaris XLT 600 136
98 polaris 700 rak 136
02 ski doo zx summit 800 151
10 mountian magic ski doo zx summit 827 159
12 ski doo summit x xm 800 154
14 ski doo xm summit x 800 163
15 ski doo xm summit x T3 800 163
17 ski doo G4 summit x 850 165
19 ski doo G4 summit x 850 165
Finally 2020 ski doo G4 summit expert 165

Its been some of the best times and met some of the best people.

 

[canuck5]

Put a pile of Km on dads 96 Polaris Indy trail around Fox Creek as a kid snow in that area is still decent a lot of years. Since then 01 800rmk, 05 skidoo 1000, 06 apex, 08 Nytro, 17 sidewinder, and now 18 M8000. A lot of smiles in those miles.......well except for keystone/sale trails mid winter.

 

[Bnorth]

Congrats on the anniversary this sport just gets in your blood. I was lucky enough to get to double or ride borrowed sleds a few times as kid but got a late start on it myself. This will be my 9th season and hope for at least another 30 more!

Doubled on a 340 indy lite 136 touring
and a 340 indy lite 121
first solo ride was on an old tundra at my uncles farm
for years we had an old yamaha 292 sitting in the barn but when I was a bit older and wanted to fix it up in mechanics class I went to get it and it had been stolen

 

[JustinMan43]

This year marks my 12 season in the mountains!

First trip on a 2003 edge chassis when I was in grade 5. I got quite a few buddies into it now. Riding deep snow, drinking beers, and pushing each other to be better is what makes me addicted to this sport

 

[Sledtillded]

This is my 32nd year In The mountains. I grew up riding to the big island on jack fish lake behind a 69 RUPP in a cutter. My first sled was an 81 SS 440. Then an 89 Indy 500 SKS. 94 XLT 98 RMK 700
09 Dragon 800 163 11 M8 155. And a 20 ???? TBA.

Trying to keep up to a bunch of Mod sleds All the way to the back side of premier on a 500 with 3/4 inch Paddles Those were the days
These pics are from that first trip up Allen

 

[Quicksand]

Is there an old school pictures thread anywhere? I love seeing these

 

[Sledtillded]

Is there an old school pictures thread anywhere? I love seeing these

I have 6 albums full of this stuff. Love looking back

 

[Old-Soul]

There is a retro pics thread somewhere, a couple actually I think.
They're my favorite threads on this site.

I should really scan the pics my dad has from his trips west in the mid 80's through the mid 90's

 

[j.c.higgins]

This my 21st year riding the hills, I was drag racing thru the nineties and was getting tired of dumping money into it and my buddy said you should sell the car and get back into snowmobiling. Thought about it and I sold everything and bought a 98 XC 600 and 98 XLt 600. I was invited to the mountains and did 4 rides that season, 2 to McBride and 2 to Revy. I was hooked, my family liked the rides around home and Fawcett Lake but not into the hills. Then I traded the XLT for a 99 RMK 700, modded it up and miled it out, then a 2005 Polaris 900, turned my XC into a Ultra 800 triple mod, after mileing them out i bought a new 2012 800 Pro and put 10,500km in the hills on it before the crank went and now a 19 850 Pro. But I will never forget my first ride which was to McBride we rode Renshaw twice and North Dore, we didn't know where we were going and got lost in Renshaw 2nd day but eventually got out! It's a great sport and I've met or crossed paths with a lot of great people and still riding with the same group that took me on my first ride!!

 

[Slamnek]

My first mountain ride 2002 on a 96 XC600 136x2” back in butterfly bowl in Lucile. That was a hell of climb out on that old girl.

 

[Sledtillded]

This my 21st year riding the hills, I was drag racing thru the nineties and was getting tired of dumping money into it and my buddy said you should sell the car and get back into snowmobiling. Thought about it and I sold everything and bought a 98 XC 600 and 98 XLt 600. I was invited to the mountains and did 4 rides that season, 2 to McBride and 2 to Revy. I was hooked, my family liked the rides around home and Fawcett Lake but not into the hills. Then I traded the XLT for a 99 RMK 700, modded it up and miled it out, then a 2005 Polaris 900, turned my XC into a Ultra 800 triple mod, after mileing them out i bought a new 2012 800 Pro and put 10,500km in the hills on it before the crank went and now a 19 850 Pro. But I will never forget my first ride which was to McBride we rode Renshaw twice and North Dore, we didn't know where we were going and got lost in Renshaw 2nd day but eventually got out! It's a great sport and I've met or crossed paths with a lot of great people and still riding with the same group that took me on my first ride!!

10500 on the Pro. That’s awesome.

Haven’t thought about the Dore for a long time. That glacier was pretty amazing back there
Looking forward to riding with you guys this winter !!

 

[j.c.higgins]

The Pro treated me well! The day we went in to Dore we arrived at the same time as the Heli skiers did, the skiers made about 4-5 runs and we talked to the pilot between drops! He was good about us being there actually told us to go first but we waited took a few pics and then ripped it up after they left! They're all closed up now! Too bad. But yes we will ride!

 

[dabensmiller]

This season will be #17 for me. It's been a hell of a ride so far, i don't get to ride as much as i used to. Once my kid is older, we will be out as much as possible. Here's my sled line up. Oddly enough, i always say that the M8 was my favorite sled, but somehow i have only bought one Cat.
97 XLT 600
05 RMK 900
08 Dragon 700
11 M8
13 Pro 800
13 XM 800
14 XM 800
15 XM 800
15 Pro 600
16 Axys 800
17 Axys 800
18 Axys 800

 

[snochuk]

This is my 19th year in the mountains.
Still riding with the same people we started with and have added a few.
Before all the closures we used to pick spots on Google and then go ride/explore different areas.
My favorite was always East Twin, then South Dore and then Renshaw.
Vale and Blue have great areas also - Vale was the first two winters of riding but we soon left for the lack of others at Blue and Mcbride.
Lots of people everywhere now - just due to distance we never did the Revy south areas nearly as much.
So many great areas to ride and have met so many great people to ride with.
Have learned a lot through others, formal training and unfortunately through some tough experiences.
Has been a great time.
First trip was on a 1999MXZ 670 HO.
121x1 1/4", was a tough go to get through saddle at Renshaw.
Next trip was Danger basin at Vale - we looked at others riding as this was a deepish day and we were not going in on 121s.

It was straight home and to Riverside for some Summits for us - 144x2" ZX.
It has been the most fun money pit ever since then. lol
Lots of sleds over the years for hill and farm.
81 SS440
85 Fourmula MX470
93 EXCITER
99 MXZ 670HO
02 SUMMIT 144
06 SUMMIT 151
95? POLARIS SUPER SPORT
90 PHAZER
09 SUMMIT 163
01 SUMMIT 700X144
03 MXZ 600X136X1.25
14 XM 163
00 MELLENIUM MXZ 700
90 PHAZER 136X1.25
17 SUMMIT 850X165
19 ALPHA

Kind of in order of purchasing - still have 5 sleds parked in shop.
The 06 Summit and the Alpha were the best.

 

[174mcx]

26yrs in the mountains,

1980 scorpion whip
1978 polaris tx 440
1994 Indy lite
1997 Polaris XLT
2001 Polaris 800 RMK
2005 Polaris 900 RMK
2006 Yamaha Apex Turbo
2011 Yamaha Nypex Turbo
2012 Polaris Pro Turbo
2012 Yamaha Viper Turbo
2017 Yamaha Vipex Turbo


My best sled was the Nypex, that thing was incredible. I've always tried to get at least 20 days in BC a year, I know a few years in the early 2000nds I didn't get that, but every other year until last year, I had a surgery that limited me to 4 days in May. I am getting anxious to get out.

 

[moyiesledhead]

Wait a sec, gotta do some math here. Winter of '68.....brand new '69 MotoSki Zephyr.....hmmmm, this will be my 51st year riding the mountains of BC. Back in '68 we followed BC Tel's snocat to the top of a couple of local mountains. Would never have gotten there otherwise. They serviced their microwave sites 3 times a week back in those days. Amazing how things have changed.

 

[Duct tape Doo]

25 yrs in mountains:
mid 80 Yamaha SS 440
Late 80s Phaser
95 Yamaha 600 Mountain Max (junk)
96 Summit 670 156"
2000 Summit 600 HMX 156"
2001 Summit 800 HMX 151"
2003 Summit 800 HMX 159"
2008 Summit 800X 154"(Bison)
S-36 kit, T-motion, 2010 rear skid, still wont sidehill like an XM
2013 Summit 800X 163"
2014 Summit 800X 163"
2016 Summit 800X 174"
Favorites 96 Summit, 2003 Summit, 2016 T-3